These Facts About Mardi Gras Will Blow Your Mind

1)”Laissez les bon temps rouler” is the official greeting of Mardi Gras.

You’ll hear laissez les bon temps rouler (pronounced lay-say le bon tom roo-lay) over and over again at Mardi Gras celebrations. It means”let the good times roll” in Cajun French. We can get behind that idea!


2) Carnival season begins much earlier than many realize.

In New Orleans, carnival season begins on Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day. Many smaller parades are hosted leading up to the 12-day parading period. But the last five days make up the main weekend (from Thursday night until the morning of Fat Tuesday), when the largest parades run back-to-back.


3) Each parade is run by a different krewe.

While some krewes have been hosting Mardi Gras parades for years, others have formed more recently. Most are named after Roman or Greek mythology.

Some are easy to join via an application, while others have long wait lists to get in. You will likely have to spend a little change, regardless, as these private organizations charge yearly memberships.


4) It’s illegal to not wear a mask onboard a float.

It’s not just a tradition—it’s the law! Everyone on the float must wear a mask or paint their face. The practice was originally started to encourage people to mingle and talk to those outside of your social circle.


5) Krewes choose a different theme for their parades each year.

Each float in a Mardi Gras parade is decorated differently to fit into a central theme, which can be anything from literature to humor. And they don’t waste any time getting to work: Most start on the following year’s floats as soon as Fat Tuesday is over.


6) Each krewe has a system of royalty.

According to How Stuff Works, each parade kicks off with the krewe leader. Next comes the king or queen, followed by the maids and dukes, before the rest of the members.


7) If you want to keep Mardi Gras family friendly, avoid the French Quarter.

You may assume that Mardi Gras is one wild party, but there are some spots you can go that are family friendly, too. Try finding an area along the parade route uptown if you’re looking for a more PG experience.


8) Mentioning one phrase will score you beads at parades.

Just use the magic words:”Throw me something, mister!” as floats pass by, and watch as krewe members happily toss you beads and toys.


9) Want to ride on a float? It will cost you.

In addition to paying a membership fee, krewe members dish out major cash for beads, costumes, security, clean-up crews, and Mardi Gras balls year after year. Luckily, many krewes allow members to take a break for a year, as long as they send a friend to ride (and pay) in their place.


10) Mardi Gras has rarely been canceled in New Orleans.

While rain delays are common, the event has only been canceled a handful of times, such as during the two World Wars and an outbreak of Yellow Fever in the 1870s, according to Double-Barrelled Travel. In the greater New Orleans area in 2021, parades have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic (but the heart of the holiday, king cakes, and music, will still go on). To find out what activities are being practiced safely in 2021, click here.


11) King Cake is an indicator that carnival season has arrived.

During Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, king cakes are ubiquitous. Each pastry is hiding a tiny plastic baby inside. Tradition holds that if you find the baby inside your slice of cake, you’ll be bringing king cake to the next gathering.


12) Mardi Gras isn’t only celebrated in New Orleans.

The Big Easy may be home to one of the most well-known celebrations, but plenty of other places have their own takes on this festival. The first Carnival celebration originated in Nice, France, while Rio de Janeiro, Quebec City, and Trinidad and Tobago all have their own celebrations as well. Looking for a more local way to celebrate Mardi Gras? Head to Mobile, Alabama, or St. Louis, Missouri.


13) You may look forward to the parades, but the real treat for krewe members comes later.

Sure, anyone can attend a parade, but scoring an invite to an elaborate Mardi Gras ball is more exclusive.


14) The Mardi Gras colors are green, gold, and purple—and each have hidden meanings.

Green represents faith, gold symbolizes power, and purple is justice.


15) Mardi Gras sometimes overlaps with the Super Bowl.

When New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl in 2013, some called the celebration”Super Gras.” The 12-day parade season was extended so that no parades would run on the day of the Big Game.